Hello, Shaklee Family! For centuries, people have used garlic for culinary purposes and as a natural remedy. A few fun garlic facts: Garlic was used as a currency in Ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern culture. Also, garlic juice combined with water was even used during World War II as an agent to disinfect wounds. Finally, Egyptian pyramid builders, early Olympians, and Greek and Roman soldiers used it for strength and vitality. Here’s what we know about garlic today.
- Garlic can benefit heart health. Garlic may help increase healthy cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) levels while lowering bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and fat (triglycerides) levels in the blood. It may also aid in lowering blood pressure, platelet aggregation (clot formation), and inflammation.
- Garlic contains a high amount of antioxidants. These can protect against oxidative damage.
- Garlic can benefit athletic performance. It may increase exercise capacity and reduce fatigue.
- Garlic contains allicin, which has many antimicrobial properties. Some studies have found a reduction in the number of colds if taking garlic.
For some individuals, garlic may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and some medications may not go well with garlic. So be sure to check with your doctor if taking a garlic supplement.
Overall, I recommend using garlic in your recipes. My favorite way to add garlic to meals is to use my DIY garlic oil and a roasted garlic paste, both with EVOO. Check out my recipes here.
Thank you for reading! Learning about the ways to boost your health is a key part of a healthy and thriving lifestyle. Keep reading and learning, all. In health, Sarah Elijah Scherer, RD, LN, MBA, OLY
Sarah is the Shaklee Pure Performance Team dietitian/nutritionist. She is also a two-time competitor for the USA in the Summer Games, participating in the 10-meter Air Rifle event in 2012 and 2016. Her experience as an elite athlete and her status as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and Licensed Nutritionist (LN), make her perfectly suited to consult with Shaklee athletes on their nutritional needs. Sarah graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas with a BS in Nutrition in 2013, and then earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Healthcare Management. She specializes in weight loss, improved sport performance, diabetes prevention, heart health, healthy aging, smoking cessation, and performance goals. Her hobbies include church ministries, mountaineering, physical fitness, and gardening.
